Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-14

A Live Manufacturing Industry, Operated
by Enterprising Young Men-Eashton-
ing Wood into Various Forms.

About the only live industry in this happy
land, except raising fast horses, is the man.
ufacturing establishment of Hill Bros. & Co.
They have worked three band saws the past
season, and up to Sept. lst had got out
1896 pieces of chair stock which has been
shipped in car load lots from Pishon's Ferry
and Skowhegan to Haywood Bros. i Co.. and
other large chair manufacturers in the
country. Dowel turning forms an important
part of their work. getting out this season
900, and having orders now for l,500, 900
TO be shipped the coming year. Maple, birch,
and beech squares have been shipped in car
load lots, besides boards for flooring and
furniture. They intend making 8 general
novelty wood working business of their in
dustry, taking the lumber in the log and
working it up into divers kinds of small d.
mensions, and finishing into material for
chairs, hat racks, toy blocks, mailing cases,
curtain fixtures, &C., sc. Although making
hard wood working their staple business,
they saw pine, spruce, and other long lumber,
and are now finishing a contract of saving
half million shingles and 100000 feet Of
lumber and are shipping 10000 feet of bass
boards to go into step ladders.
have entirely renovated it, built on add
tions, added to the power so as to run ten
new saws and machines which they have
placed in position; built two 25x40 dry
kilns, and they intend to purchase planer,
moulder, lathe and boring machines this fall !;
add another extension to their mill and buitd
storehouse in order to meet the demands of
their new orders just received.
The firm is at present composed of Messrs.
p. j and f. j. Hill of Skowhegan, and w.
II. Gannett of Augusta, <Mr. Gannett de-
voting part of his time to his business in Au
gusta,) and known as the Hill Bros. MFG
Co.
Although having passed through very
severe and long winter while preparing to fill
their first seasons orders, the outlook is
bright for their business in the future, and
| certainly encouraging to the farmers in this
vicinity who have been unable to find mar
ket for their many acres of hard wood stand
ing idle waiting for Purchasers since cutting
some for ship timber in war times.
| Last spring the town unanimously voted to
exempt this mandatory from any increase
in taxation on improvements for 10 years,
and, although we have yet to get rallr Dad ,
this nisnufactory springing up in our midst
is one step towards undermining even old
Canaan, and its inhabitants may well feel
proud that some young blood has been in
troduced into its veins that has enterprise
and push enough to accomplish such good
results the first year, and distribute so many
almighty dollars among its people. We
might add that MIR. z. j. Hill,
the Business Manager of this Co.,
is but twenty one years of age, and began his
undertaking by building an improved wind
mill to saw wood WITH about three years
| since. He thinks, however, that water is more
sure than wind and intends making steam his
power in the near future unless electricity is
perfected for milling purposes. These bright,
active young men of his stamp who choose to
stay at home in old Maine, have yet chance
to make as much money in the end as many
of the wanderers to the west, who are glad to
return in short time and settle down to
work X